ROCKFORD — For a community that suffers from high unemployment and poverty, scrutiny of our waistlines may seem superfluous to the Transform Rockford movement.

But there are those who say healthy people are vital to a healthy economy.

Obesity contributes to poor health, and a higher percentage of Rockford residents are classified as obese, compared with the rest of the country. That drives up costs for employers and, along with high taxes and an undereducated workforce, can hamper the area’s ability to attract employers.

“An unhealthy population costs the company a lot of money in lost productivity, sick time and direct health costs,” said Greg Georgis, owner of FitMe Wellness, a comprehensive health club at 2595 N. Mulford Road. “Why would anybody sign up for that?”

Three in 10 adults in Winnebago County are obese, according to the 2010 Boone and Winnebago Counties Healthy Community Study by the nonprofit Rockford Health Council; the state average is 26 percent. An additional 31 percent are considered overweight.

A 2013 Gallup survey that asked people to self-report their weight and height in a phone interview showed that 33 percent of Rockfordians are obese. That statistic put us — tied with Green Bay, Wisconsin — as 10th fattest of 189 surveyed.

People with a body mass index of 30 or above are classified as obese, and those with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are overweight. BMI is a measure of body fat calculated using a person’s weight and height.

Obesity carries many health ramifications, such as the increased potential for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for men and women in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Numerous factors can contribute to obesity. In this story, we’ll consider three: Food choices at restaurants, path and trail connectivity, and how fitness clubs aim to combat the problem.

Restaurants

It’s a scenario with which we’re all familiar: Exhausted after a long day of work, you decide that a workout can wait for another day. So can your plans to cook, you tell yourself. So you swing through the nearest drive-thru and fill up on a burger, fries and soda.

“That’s just not real food,” Georgis said. “This whole concept of carry-out or ordering pizza or drive-thru all the time, that just has to stop.”

It’s not easy to change poor eating habits, especially because it’s often easier and more convenient to eat unhealthy food.

“We’re set up, as society, to fail. On your way home you’re going to pass seven billboards that are for fast food,” said Mike Zahniser, who co-owns Maximum Performance fitness training with his wife, Lindsey. “You know that chicken and broccoli are good for you. You’re not going to see one billboard for it.”

Page 2 of 4 - Maximum Performance and FitMe are among the organizations in Rockford working to help people eat better. FitMe, for example, has partnered with a handful of restaurants to help people make smarter choices when they go out to eat. They want to add more. Franchesco’s Ristorante, The Olympic Tavern and Octane have FitMe menu options. They’re in the process of developing menus for Vito’s Ristorante and Alchemy. Healthy doesn’t have to mean its not enjoyable, either. The curry salmon with jasmine rice, for example, has become one of the most popular items at Octane.

“It’s too easy of a cop out: everybody thinks you have to eat salad,” Georgis said. “We want to show people you could have beef and it could be incredible healthy and calorically valuable.”

Beefaroo, a sit-down or drive-thru spot with seven locations in the area, has tried in recent years to add healthier menu options, including a gluten-free menu and its B-fit menu, a partnership with Peak Sports Club to showcase 14 items with fewer than 400 calories.

Paying attention to what you eat is a big part of the battle. Studies have shown that people often underestimate the calories they consume and overestimate the calories they burn with exercise. The more extra weight people carry, the more likely they assume they’ve eaten less than they actually have.

A common tip is “write what you bite,” which helps you keep track of how much and what kind of foods you’re eating. Georgis said people can take advantage of smartphone apps that allow you to track calories.

He also says you shouldn’t be burdened with guilt for occasional poor eating but continue to stride toward healthier habits.

“It’s very simple. If you’re eating garbage, eat a little less of it and try moving a little bit more. It’s not night-and-day differential. It’s change-a-meal-here-or-change-a-meal-there.

“Move more, eat better. It’s really that simple.”

Paths/trails

The Rockford area has a highly regarded recreation path system that’s used by thousands for biking, walking and jogging.

But despite the system’s premier status, there’s still work to be done to improve connectivity of paths and sidewalks so people can get safely and more easily from Point A to Point B without having to drive cars or ride city buses.

Page 3 of 4 - “We think that can have a long-term role in community health issues like obesity,” said Steve Ernst, executive director of the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, which aids in the planning and coordination of local transportation systems.

“Our path and trail system is a premier system for a region our size,” Ernst said. “There are some priority pieces missing in that path system that would really provide phenomenal connectivity. We’re trying to prioritize those missing pieces as funds become available.”

Some glaring holes in connectivity include the area around Auburn and North Second streets and a route along Forest Hills Road that lacks sidewalks.

“You can actually see the paths that people have beaten down into the grass because the sidewalk is gone,” Ernst said. “Those are corridors we would like to target, eventually, with a sidewalk retrofit.”

There have been some promising recent moves toward connectivity, including nearly $4 million from the federal government coming to Winnebago and Stephenson counties to improve bike path and sidewalk projects in several cities.

“It’s really a lot of parts coming together to make the whole,” said Laura Pigatti Williamson of the Rockford Park District. “You’re seeing across the board what the county, the city and the Park District have been doing in trying to enhance connectivity throughout our whole community, be it through a recreation path or a sidewalk system.”

Fitness centers

Before there was Transform Rockford there was transformrockford.com, and the latter has nothing to do with the former.

Transformrockford.com redirects you to the website of Maximum Performance fitness training, which has locations in downtown Rockford and Roscoe. A Belvidere location will open this month. Transform Rockford, the nonprofit that aims to alter the region from within, can be found at transformrockford.org.

Page 4 of 4 - Maximum Performance grabbed the name a few years ago to play off its transformation contests for clients as a bit of friendly competition to lose weight, cut body fat, and change their overall look and health.

The fitness center, which focuses on group training that goes beyond typical treadmills and free weights, has had plenty of transformation stories, including several people who have dropped more than 100 pounds. A group of about 50 traveled to the Chicago area to run the Warrior Dash, a challenging 5K (3.1-mile) obstacle course and mud run.

“The people we work with typically haven’t worked out before they came here,” Zahniser said. “To see half of these people do something like the Warrior Dash, a long obstacle run, is huge.”

Zahniser, Georgis and Peak Fitness Club owner Mark Banz have different approaches to their fitness businesses. But the core concept doesn’t change: people need to improve their diets and exercise more regularly.

Georgis, whose business offers personal training, nutrition counseling and health coaching, says motivation is a big obstacle. People often want to put off plans to improve their health.

“I can’t tell you how often we hear: ‘I’m just too busy to work out. I’m just too busy to eat well,’” he said. “What are you waiting for? What magical bullet do you think is going to happen?”

Finding your motivation — whether it be looking better in a swimsuit or just staying healthy enough to run and play with your grandkids — helps people stay on track.

Banz said it’s also about finding something you enjoy and challenges you physically. The outdoor pool at Peak in Loves Park is something that might draw families in for the fun and keep them there for the exercise.

“If you don’t enjoy it, you probably won’t keep doing it,” he said. “That also applies to the food ... you have to somewhat enjoy it so that you stick to it.”